A former Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, has accused the senator representing Ogun West, Olamilekan Adeola, of project diversion.

Amosun revealed that a library project facilitated by Adeola in Abeokuta had a board tagged, ‘Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State’, a project facilitated by the ex-governor.

He argued that this indicates that there is a budget in the Federal Appropriation for the Ake Pavilion project, which is being diverted to an entirely different project.

Speaking via a statement by his media aide, Lanre Akinwale, on Monday, Amosun posited that the project in question has no connection to the ongoing construction of the Ake Pavilion project “being single-handedly funded” by him.

The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a Library construction project at the Ewang Estate Extension, Abeokuta, facilitated by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.

“However, the project board erected at the site of the library project has a different inscription, tagged, ’Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and other Facilities, Ogun State’.

“What this simply connotes is that there is a budget in the Federal Appropriation for the Ake Pavilion project, which is being diverted to an entirely different project. Otherwise, how could the facilitator of the library project inscribe a narration, entirely different from what he facilitated?”

Speaking further, he said, “For the avoidance of doubt, there is only one Ake Pavilion Project, and it is located at the Ake Palace Ground, Abeokuta. The project was conceptualised and designed as a tourist attraction centre by Senator Ibikunle Amosun during the twilight of his administration as Governor in 2019. The actual construction of the multi-functional Ake Pavilion started in 2020, and the project was never part of his constituency projects when he served as Ogun Central Senator (2019-2023).

“The Ake Pavilion project, which is 95 per cent completed, contains an impressive 3,000-capacity Amphitheatre with an open performance area of about 3,000sqm, 3 Nos Banquet Halls of varying capacities ranging from 100 to 500, a museum area showcasing the history of the four quarters (sections) of Abeokuta with shops for artefacts, books, Adire, administrative blocks, and other facilities, all financed by Senator Ibikunle Amosun through his personal resources.

“While Senator Amosun welcomes the facilitation of Federal Government-funded projects to Ogun State, it is essential to ensure that such projects are done with sincerity and without misrepresenting facts. We advise Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola to provide accurate information to the people of Ogun State, especially Abeokuta, regarding the library project he facilitated to Ewang Estate Extension.”

However, in a swift reaction, the Ogun West senator denied the allegation of project diversion.

Adeola’s spokesman, Kayode Odunaro, said, “There is no case of diversion of the project as insinuated based on the inscription on the signpost at the completed library project.”

He explained, “As stated in the statement of Senator Amosun, the inscription on the project is ‘Renovation of Ake Pavilion Roofing and Other Facilities, Ogun State. ’ For those not conversant with budgetary terminologies, the wordings ‘and other facilities, Ogun State’, shows that the project was not confined to Ake Pavilion alone. Indeed, it could include construction of roads, schools, library, etc in Ogun State as determined by the implementing agency and facilitator of the project in the budget based on the availability of funds.”

Odunaro conceded that there was a budget for the renovation of Ake Pavilion, which is still under construction.

The battle for survival in Nigeria is real and tough and it is a common trend for Nigerians to seek ‘greener pastures’ in technologically advanced and developed countries.

According to research, the highest-paying countries for skilled workers offers robust visa programs, attractive job markets, and promising futures. Due to the high demand for skilled workers in these countries, the salaries are also very attractive and rewarding, making them very attractive for these skilled and experienced workers to thrive. 

As these countries continue to evolve, they are expected to offer even more opportunities for skilled workers in high-demand sectors such as AI, Blockchain development, and sustainable development, with new positions emerging to meet the challenges of the future.

This article explores the top five highest-paying countries for skilled workers in 2024 with the published data on average salaries and discussed projections for 2025, per DAAD Scholarship.

Countries with highest salaries for skilled workers

5. Canada – $65,200 Average Salary

Canada ranks fifth with an average salary of $65,200. The skilled work visa program in Canada is the country’s Global Talent Stream (GTS) under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. This program offers expedited work visa processing for skilled workers. In Canada, there is a high demand for healthcare professionals, IT specialists, skilled tradespeople, and early childhood educators.

Furthermore, by 2025, the country is expected to see a rise in demand for green energy technicians, AI engineers, and telemedicine professionals, as the country prioritizes sustainability and digital health initiatives.

4. Norway – $68,700 average salary

Norway offers an average salary of $68,700 and has become an attractive destination for skilled workers, particularly in engineering (Oil and Gas, Renewable energy), healthcare, and IT.

The country’s skilled work visa program, the Residence Permit for Skilled Workers, enables professionals to fill positions in sectors such as Engineering, Oil and Gas, Renewable energy, Health care, and IT.

In Norway, the projections for 2025 include an increased demand for electric vehicle infrastructure planners, smart city architects, and AI-powered automation specialists. The country’s commitment to sustainability and renewable energy continues to create a steady demand for Engineers and green technology professionals.

3. United States – $74,700 average salary

The United States of America remains a top choice for skilled workers, offering an average salary of $74,700 and the popular visa options for professionals include the H-1B skilled work visa program.

The U.S. continues to emerge as a top choice because of its innovation and technology, attracting global talent to Silicon Valley and beyond. While the H-1B visa is competitive, alternative pathways like the O-1 Visa for extraordinary abilities ensure access for top-tier professionals.

The skilled shortage occupations were there is a high demand for work include software developers, IT specialists, healthcare professionals, and skilled tradespeople (welders and electricians).

In 2025, it is projected there will likely be an increased need for AI engineers, robotics specialists, and data analysts as the U.S. invests in emerging technologies.

2. Luxembourg – $78,800 average salary

Luxembourg is renowned for its significance in finance and technology. The nation ranks second with an average salary of $78,800.

The country’s EU Blue Card program and Third-Country National Work Permit offer pathways for highly skilled professionals in various fields, such as financial analysts, IT specialists, engineers, and healthcare workers. The EU Blue card also simplifies the hiring of highly skilled professionals, and its competitive salaries make Luxembourg an attractive option for international talents.

It is projected that in 2025 Luxembourg would expand its skill shortage list, adding demands in fintech, renewable energy technology, and blockchain development.

1. Switzerland – $87,500 average salary

Switzerland remains the top destination for skilled workers in 2024, with an average salary of $87,500. The country offers several work permit options for skilled workers, including the L permit and B permits.

In the new year 2025, Switzerland is expected to see an increased demand for sustainability consultants, AI specialists, and green energy engineers as it advances its environmental initiatives.

BlackRock Chairman and CEO Larry Fink acknowledged in his 2025 annual letter that Bitcoin could challenge the U.S. dollar’s status as the global reserve currency.

“If the U.S. doesn’t get its debt under control, if deficits keep ballooning, America risks losing that position to digital assets like Bitcoin,” Fink wrote in BlackRock’s March 2025 letter.

The statement marks a significant shift from the head of the world’s largest asset manager, recognizing digital assets as potential alternatives to the dollar.

Throughout the letter, Fink mentioned Bitcoin seven times and the dollar eight times, signaling the growing relevance of digital currencies in financial discourse.

BlackRock’s letter frames Bitcoin as both an innovation and a risk, warning that if investors view it as a more stable long-term store of value than the dollar, it could undermine U.S. financial primacy.

Fink stressed that “two things can be true at the same time,” referring to both innovation and risk in digital asset development.

Beyond Bitcoin, Fink positioned tokenization as a transformative force for capital markets, likening it to the shift from postal mail to email.

He argued that tokenized assets could bypass financial intermediaries and democratize access to investments through fractional ownership and improved voting systems.

BlackRock also highlighted India’s digital identity system as a model for secure transactions, with over 90% of Indians verifying smartphone transactions—a benchmark for future tokenized economies.

MultiChoice, Africa’s leading entertainment provider and operator DStv, has warned shareholders to brace for tougher times as the company struggles in a challenging economic climate.

The pay-TV giant has suffered a sharp decline in its subscriber base, dropping from over 23 million to 19.3 million in less than two years.

According to NewsPoint Nigeria, sources said that a significant portion of the losses occurred outside South Africa, with over 84% of the affected users being DStv customers.

In an earlier statement, MultiChoice attributed the steep decline to economic pressures in key markets, particularly Nigeria. “The loss in the rest of Africa has been primarily due to the significant consumer pressure in Nigeria, where inflation has remained above 30% for the majority of the last 12 months and, more recently, due to extreme power disruptions in Zambia,” the company said.

The company’s latest voluntary operational update, released in preparation for its financial results for the year ending March 31, 2025, reinforces the severity of its current challenges.

MultiChoice noted that the “challenging consumer environment has resulted in a decline in subscribers and limited revenue growth,” underscoring the financial strain faced by the company.

This development came amid increasing regulatory scrutiny, with Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) recently filing charges against MultiChoice for allegedly violating local regulatory directives.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has impounded a truck loaded with 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

This is contained in a statement signed by the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer (NPRO), Afolabi Babawale, yesterday in Abuja.

Babawale explained that the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CGS SIS) had acted on orders to prevent incidents of pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, and illegal dealings in petroleum products in the Niger Delta.

According to him, the CGS SIS responded swiftly to an intelligence tip-off and impounded a long caravan truck with an in-built tank fully loaded with stolen crude oil.

“The truck was spotted while in transit around Eleme flyover in Elelewon, Port Harcourt, and was subsequently impounded by the CGS SIS,” he said.

Babawale quoted the Squad Commander, AS Dandaura, who revealed that his team was quickly deployed to the crime scene.

“The truck was fully loaded with siphoned crude oil illegally drawn from vandalised wellheads and destroyed pipelines.

“However, the truck’s occupants fled as the operatives approached the scene of the crime.

“An investigation has been launched to track down the syndicate responsible for the act of economic sabotage.

“For the record, the exhibits recovered at the point of arrest include: A red-head and navy-blue container truck with 10 tyres (Reg. No. AGL574XY), containing approximately 70,000 litres of stolen crude oil,” he stated.

Babawale emphasised that once the investigation concluded, the NSCDC would seek the forfeiture of the truck and its contents in a court of competent jurisdiction.

He said proceeds from the sale of the assets would be remitted to the Proceeds of Crime Account (POCA).

The CGS SIS Commander further reiterated the squad’s commitment to waging an unrelenting battle against oil thieves and their sponsors, affirming that any suspects arrested would face the law after thorough investigations. (NAN)

There are indications that the naira-for-crude policy of the Federal Government may continue, as impeccable insider sources familiar with the development insisted on Monday that all parties involved in the deal would reconvene soon.

The first phase of the six-month deal involving the Federal Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and Dangote Petroleum Refinery ended March 31, 2025.

It has not been renewed, and the Dangote refinery has since stopped selling refined petroleum products in naira due to the non-renewal of the naira-for-crude deal.

This came as a report by S&P Global on Monday stated that the Dangote refinery processed approximately 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil in 2025 so far, with about 35 per cent of this supply being sourced from international imports.

This means the plant imported about 140,000 barrels of crude oil per day and a total of 12.6 million barrels in three months.

Commenting on the naira-for-crude policy, a senior government official familiar with the workings of the committee responsible for the deal told one of our correspondents that the government has not ruled out the policy.

“The initiative is going to continue because it is now obvious that the policy has a great impact on not just fuel prices, but also on other economic indices. It also positively impacted the FX rate.

“However, the committee is awaiting the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s submission on the task given to it as regards the policy. Once that is done, the next thing should be the way forward as regards the naira-for-crude policy,” the source, who spoke to one of our correspondents in confidence due to the lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, stated.

Recall that on October 1, 2024, the government commenced the sales of crude oil in naira to the Dangote refinery to improve supply, save the country millions of dollars in petroleum product imports, and ultimately reduce the pump prices of fuel.

NNPC recently stated that the Dangote refinery had received 48 million barrels of crude oil in naira under the deal. It also said a total of 84 million barrels of crude had been supplied to the refinery since it commenced operations in 2023.

NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, in a statement, explained that the initial deal was for six months and that discussions for the renewal of the agreement were currently ongoing, with the aim of establishing a new contract.

Meanwhile, the S&P report also revealed that the Dangote refinery had secured its first crude oil from Brazil and Equatorial Guinea, according to a company executive, as volatile domestic availability had added incentive to diversify its feedstock.

According to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data, Brazil’s Petrobras shipped the first cargo of Brazil’s Tupi crude to the refinery on March 26, delivering one million barrels of the medium sweet grade.

Supplies from Equatorial Guinea are yet to be dispatched, according to the ship tracking data, but will soon add to the growing list of crude grades being processed at the plant.

“We have started sourcing globally,” a refinery executive told S&P Global Commodity Insights. The official also confirmed that the company now counts Brazil and Equatorial Guinea among its global oil suppliers.

“Dangote has received roughly 400,000 b/d of crude oil in 2025 to date, of which around 35 per cent was imported internationally,” the S&P report stated, quoting data obtained from the CAS data.

Last year, the Dangote Chairman, Aliko Dangote, shared plans to run Brazilian crude at the plant back in July 2024 and said talks were underway with Senegal and Libya over potential supply routes.

However, as the refinery’s main trade partner and minority stakeholder, NNPC, has faced its challenges, the company could have new incentives to forge alternative supply links. Since the refinery began operating, NNPC has consistently underdelivered on supplies for Dangote.

After delivering around a third of some 300,000 b/d of discounted oil it had initially promised to the refinery, according to CAS data, the national oil company reduced its stake in the project from 20 per cent to 7.2 per cent in July.

In October, it agreed to begin supplying crude to Dangote in naira as part of an initiative to deflate Nigerian fuel prices and briefly became its sole supplier.

However, according to NNPC figures, the NOC delivered roughly 280,000 b/d of crude to Dangote in naira by March 10, falling shy of the 385,000 b/d agreed under the deal. The six-month deal officially ended on Monday, March 31, 2024.

Reacting, a Dangote executive who spoke to S&P Global expressed significant uncertainty regarding the future of a new naira-for-crude deal, stating, “We are not even certain if it will be renewed or if it will proceed at all.”

Besides challenges for NNPC, he argued that the obligation for Dangote to sell its oil products in naira under the deal had become a drag on its operations. He said that the refinery was left exposed to price fluctuations by pegging contract prices to dollar-based benchmarks and converting them into naira at the point of sale.

“It’s not commercially advantageous for us,” said the source. “When we buy in naira and sell in naira, the forex risk between the time of buying crude and selling the products may not be fully covered”.

According to trade sources and Nigerian port authorities, NNPC has allocated seven crude oil cargoes to deliver around 245,000 b/d to the Dangote site in April but has yet to agree on payment terms.

HURIWA reacts

The Human Rights Writers Association has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the continuation of the naira-for-crude deal between NNPC and local refineries, including the Dangote refinery.

The group warned that the termination of the deal could lead to sudden and indiscriminate hikes in pump prices of petroleum products, thereby exacerbating the hardships faced by millions of Nigerians.

HURIWA made the call in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, who emphasized the need for a humane and compassionate government, while urging the President to quickly direct his economic team to reach a new agreement with local refineries.

“In the spirit of the Sallah celebrations and given the public shows of supplications to God by the President and other public office holders as part of the end of the fasting and lenting period, we are praying President Tinubu to direct his Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Finance to transparently and rapidly reach agreement to continue the naira-to-crude-deal with local crude oil refineries including the Dangote Petroleum refinery.

“We make this public supplication and appeal because any alteration to this deal would mean excruciating hardships and the massive affliction of poverty on millions of the already suffering, struggling and multidimensionally poor households,” the statement read.

Onwubiko noted the economic impact of failing to renew the deal, adding that many small and medium-scale enterprises dependent on petrol-powered generators may be forced to close down, while private sector workers may face termination of appointments.

He further noted the impact of the deal on 133 multi-dimensionally poor Nigerians, noting that the World Bank had stated that several million more Nigerians had fallen into poverty due to the rising cost of living.

The group urged Tinubu’s government not to ignore “the expanding frontiers of mass poverty that any further hike in the pump price of petrol would bring unto millions of Nigerian already overstretched households.”

The Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has fixed Wednesday, the 2nd of April, 2025, for Judgment, Naija News reports.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has the winner of the election held last year.

Okpebholo defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).

Recall that the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had reserved judgment in the petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, challenging the declaration of Okpebholo as winner of the September 21, 2024 governorship election.

The PDP and Ighodalo are disputing the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging electoral irregularities, including over-voting, ballot non-serialization, incorrect collation, and computation errors.

During the course of the tribunal hearings, the petitioners called 19 witnesses and subpoenaed a Senior Technical Officer from INEC’s ICT department, who presented 154 BVAS machines to support claims of over-voting.

INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC are the first to third respondents respectively in the case marked EPT/ED/GOV/02/2024.

INEC did not call any witnesses to counter the petitioners’ claims. Okpebholo presented one witness, while the APC called four before closing their defense.

The three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi announced that judgment would be delivered at a later date to be communicated to all parties.

“A date for judgment will be communicated to the parties by the Secretary of the tribunal. The tribunal stands adjourned until then,” said Justice Kpochi.

Earlier, the petitioners’ lead counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), formally adopted their final written address. INEC’s counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN), urged the tribunal to dismiss the case, describing it as lacking in merit.

Agabi argued that all polling unit agents who testified had signed the result sheets and “could not distinguish between what they heard and what they observed.” He added that the number of polling units covered by the petitioners was too small to warrant nullification of the entire election.

“The petitioners have not pleaded any alternative results on the basis of which they can be declared winners. Their case is based on analyses carried out by hired consultants,” Agabi stated, describing their claims of non-compliance as weak and unsupported by credible evidence.

On behalf of the governor, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) said the APC candidate emerged victorious through valid votes. He challenged the petitioners’ position on the non-serialization of sensitive materials, clarifying that Form EC25B only requires the quantity of materials received and returned—not their serial numbers.

He added that while the petitioners alleged over-voting, none of the BVAS machines brought before the tribunal were actually opened for verification. “They failed to present the necessary documents to substantiate their claims,” Ikpeazu argued, calling the petition an “academic exercise.”

Also adopting its final address, APC’s counsel, Emmanuel Ukala, stated that the petitioners failed to provide enough witnesses to support their claims. He pointed out that only five polling unit agents were called out of over 4,000 polling units in the state, with no presiding officers summoned to testify.

He stressed the Supreme Court’s standard that allegations of non-compliance must be proven polling unit by polling unit, ward by ward, and local government by local government. “The petitioners did not show how the BVAS machines functioned, nor did they call enough witnesses,” Ukala added.

Responding, the petitioners’ counsel, Ken Morzi (SAN), clarified that their complaints were limited to 765 polling units, not the entire state. He argued that the case should be assessed holistically and not based solely on the percentage of polling units challenged.

Morzi said, “We concede that elections took place at the polling units, but our contention is how 25 votes transformed into 525 votes at the collation centres.”

He also addressed allegations of document dumping, asserting that all submitted documents were certified by INEC and tendered without objection. On the issue of alternative results, Morzi said all evidence before the tribunal was provided by the petitioners.

An elder in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish, Quincy Ayodele, has denied claims that the former Pastor-in-charge of the parish, Idowu Iluyomade, rebelled against the church before starting his own.

Ayodele stated that she had expected that Iluyomade would be restored to his parish or another after he had served his three-month suspension handed to him by the church leadership.

According to Church Times, in a chat with Daddy Freeze posted on his YouTube Channel on Monday, the natural medicine practitioner said she was surprised and disappointed that Iluyomade was given a letter not to step into the church’s premises.

The World Health Organisation consultant said she was always going with Iluyomade to the headquarters of the RCCG in Ebute Meta for the three months that he served the punishment.

She said, “We were expecting that after the three months he would be restored to the City of David. but to our surprise, whatt we heard was that he was given a letter that he must not step into the City of David.”

Ayodele expressed concern about the action of the RCCG, saying, ‘Pastor Adeboye and Pastor Iluyomade were like father and son..They are so close..There is nothing Adeboye wanted that Iluyomade would not go out of his way to make available.”

While insisting that Iluyomade did not rebel against the church, she reiterated, ‘He was told not to enter City of David. Why they did that is only known to our daddy, the governing council and God. I cannot answer why. But we are curious.”

She said some elders in the church had to step in when it was clear that Iluyomade was stopped from entering the church.

According to Ayodele, the concerned elders wrote letters of appeal to the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to plead with him not to take such drastic action against Iluyomade.

She said, “They wrote letters and signed their names on the letters to Pastor Adeboye. But there was no response from Baba Adeboye.”

Ayodele said the next step the Iluyomades took was to start going to Kings Court, another RCCG Parish that Iluyomade pioneered many years ago.

‘The pastor in the church welcomed them and accorded them the honour of the founding pastors, only to be told later that they should not be accommodated.

“Pastor Adeboye taught us that if one sheep is missing out of 100, Jesus would go after the lost sheep..I was now asking will he now allow Iluyomade to be lost to the world.”

Ayodele, who disclosed she has been in RCCG for about 32 years, said she had to be on the trail of Iluyomade to bring him back to the church.

She also denied insinuation that it was the former CEO of Access Bank, late Herbert Wigwe, who was the highest contributor to the building of the Trinity Towers of the City of David.

According to her, many people contributed to the building of the tower, and some gave as much as Wigwe gave. She said many were as committed to the church as Wigwe, citing examples of how people supported projects at the prompting of Iluyomade.

She said Iluyomade did a lot for the RCCG and Adeboye, wondering what could have led to the church’s action against Iluyomade.

She gave examples of free schools that Iluyomade built, how he fed the hungry every week, and how he impacted the larger society by using church funds.

Ayodele said many prominent Nigerians were contacted to beg Daddy GO and change his mind about the expulsion of Iluyomade, but to no avail.

“They went to beg him, and he said he (Iluyomade) was paying loan. But he has been paying loans without coming to ask for money from you. So, why don’t you leave him and let him finish paying the loan?

“He said it’s okay; he will let him come back. He did not. Other people went to beg him, rolling on the floor and asking for his forgiveness..He did not.” Ayodele said.

Asked if the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria intervened in the matter, she said, ‘Who will talk to him if God has not talked to him. My daddy hears from God. It is what God says that he tells us, and we believe him. He will say my daddy says’ and we believe him.”

Ayodele said Pastor Iluyomade never planned to start a church, adding that the people they helped abandoned them in their moment of trials.

She said. “He does not even know how to start a church. He was an Anglican before he joined RCCG. His father was a reverend. He had left Anglican for almost 32 years. If he goes back to Anglican, where is he going to start from?

“I can tell you that the people they helped abandoned them in their moment of trials. They were not even praying for him in the City of David that he left. That was what made me go to him. When I got to him, he was weeping, telling me that he was told not to step into the church.”

Ayodele said she was moved to tears when Pastor Adeboye insinuated during his visit to the City of David on Sunday that those who left the Church were demons and that devils built trinity towers.

She said, “I started wondering if this my daddy is talking. What is going on?”

The health practitioner said she did not follow Iluyomade when he started his church because she believed the matter could still be resolved and that she was mediating.

Ayodele said if she had the grace of meeting Pastor Adeboye, she would be him frantically and appeal to him to forgive Iluyomade.

The fate of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District, will be decided within the next 90 days.

Last week, constituents from Kogi Central submitted a recall petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking to remove Akpoti-Uduaghan from office. INEC is now in the process of verifying the signatures attached to the petition.

For the petition to progress, it must be endorsed by more than half of the registered voters in the Kogi Central District.

According to Punch, if the required threshold is met, the commission will organize a referendum within 90 days from receiving the petition. According to INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a public notice will be issued, providing details of the referendum’s time, date, and location.

However, if the petition fails to meet the necessary number of signatures, a public notice will be issued informing the public of this outcome.

INEC’s guidelines dictate that a referendum will only be conducted if it is confirmed that over half of the registered voters in the district support the petition.

The recall petition stems from several controversies surrounding Akpoti-Uduaghan, including her suspension from the Senate on March 6, 2025, for alleged “gross misconduct” following a disagreement with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The petition cites “loss of confidence” as the main reason for the recall and accuses the suspended senator of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and deceit.

Accompanying the petition were six bags filled with documents containing signatures collected from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central.

These signatures were gathered from 902 polling units across the five local government areas of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo, Okehi, and Okene.

As part of the recall process, Naija News gathered that INEC has sent a notification letter to Akpoti-Uduaghan, informing her of the receipt of the petition. A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the presiding officer of the Senate.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has disclosed that the late Ayo Adebanjo played a pivotal role in the 2023 victory recorded by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Lagos State.

He stated this on Monday while paying tribute to the late leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere.

Abure’s tribute was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, after he led a delegation of the Labour Party executives to the residence of the late elder statesman over the weekend.

Applauding Adebanjo for his effort, Abure insisted that the late politician deserved credit for his contribution to the electoral upset.

According to him, Adebanjo’s troubleshooting efforts not only engendered peace in the Labour Party but also propelled the party into achieving massive successes in the last general elections.

He said, “Recall that the Labour Party played a major role in the 2023 general elections. I can remember whenever a crisis came up, he (Adebanjo) would summon me to Lagos.

“We would discuss and reach amicable resolutions in those crises.

“Our strong performance in the last general elections can be credited to his several interventions. He navigated several of such cases, particularly in Lagos, and today, that state is one of the strongest bases of the party. I learnt a lot from Pa Adebanjo personally, that culture of resistance, defending what is right, defending democracy and the rule of law, I learnt it from him.

“I am happy that the struggle to enthrone democracy in Nigeria was achieved in his lifetime. Many of his contemporaries were not that lucky. He saw an unbroken democracy for close to 25 years, and he participated in it. We were able to identify and put together all our candidates from the presidential candidate down to the least position and the ruling oligarchy didn’t believe what they saw in the 2023 general elections.

“For the first time, we mobilised the youths of this country. For the first time, the youth of the country saw hope and they were living it. They envisioned themselves in it and we were able to achieve that change. Pa Adebanjo, as old as he was, led the struggle.”